And for many this elicits anxiety. I am sure the scene of a mother crouching over her sleeping baby to hear if he is breathing is familiar to most parents. We do this because of the terrible scare of cot death.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS is the shocking circumstance when a parent finds their sleeping baby dead and medical science can offer no reason for the death.

Until recently in the developed world, SIDS was the leading cause of death in healthy babies under a year of age. Even though the odds of a cot death are low, it is wise to put your baby to sleep safely to limit the chances of SIDS.

Where should your baby sleep? The debate on co-sleeping rages on, with options polarized on where the best place for babies to sleep is. A significant body of literature indicates that co-sleeping is associated with an increased risk of cot death.

This research has shown that there is an increased risk of cot SIDS when parents sleep with their baby in their bed. On the other hand, there is also a very vocal body of parent advisors who advocate co-sleeping as the natural and safe place for a baby to sleep. This research shows that there is a greater chance of breastfeeding being well established with co-sleeping and that babies do well not being separated from their mother.

Tuck in bedclothes securely so bedding is not loose. You may be concerned about sleeping your infant on their back; however, this position does not increase their risk of breathing in or choking on their milk or vomit.

What is clear is that if you choose to co-sleep with your baby, you must do so safely. If you choose to co-sleep, follow these guidelines to limit the risk of SIDS Your baby must sleep on her back.

Do not have a pillow near your baby. Do not cover your baby with your duvet, or use an electric blanket or hot water bottle. Place your baby on the outside of the bed next to you, not between you and your partner. Have a sleep nest that creates a space for your baby in your bed. Do not co-sleep if your baby is exposed to cigarette smoke during the day. Do not drink alcohol or take any form of pain medication before bedtime. If you have had a Caesarean section and are taking painkillers it is wiser to let your baby sleep next to you in a crib.

Sleep Sense, The best option is probably to have babies less than three months of age in your room, next to your bed in a co-sleeper cot.

After four months, babies should be moved into their own room and will sleep better and longer in this way. Features of a safe sleep space: The most critical aspects of a safe sleep zone are that there is no risk of overheating or suffocation. Follow these guidelines to decrease the risk of SIDS: Your baby must sleep on his back or on his side with a wedge. A sleep wedge prevents babies from rolling onto their tummies. The only time a baby should sleep on his tummy is with severe cases of reflux and certain airway malformations, such as Robin syndrome.

mothercare cot bed coverlets

The mattress must be firm and NO pillows or blankets or duvets should be in the cot at all for the first year. Under 4 months, firmly swaddle your baby and after four-five months, the only safe cover for a baby is an infant sleeping bag.